Dragonfly Paperback Cover - Open pages with length description of a villa

[Gavin]

Hi,

I've been wracking my brains for years trying to remember the title of a book I read as a child. I was about nine years old around 1993-1994, and my literature teacher gave us a book that appeared to be super dense (it was thicker than the usual books I preferred at that age). The cover had a dragonfly or some kind of insect on it, but I'm almost sure it was a dragonfly. The copies given out to our primary school class in Guyana were old and worn and all in paperback form. The opening featured lengthy descriptions of a villa and all the flora surrounding the villa. I found it boring at times, but it was quite visual. My teacher wanted us to read this book to facilitate lessons on imagery. I would give anything to find this book. I believe it's a book from the UK and set in some kind of villa either in Europe or the Caribbean. Unfortunately, I can neither recall the names of the characters nor the author. Would you happen to know the title of this book? Any assistance is appreciated.

Thanks,

Gavin

[Mir]

Do you recall anything else about the plot or genre?

[Gavin]

Unfortunately, no. Was just hoping someone might have an idea.

[Kris]

Gavin, what's the genre (which we need to add to the topic header) - e.g., kids or teens? historical, non-fiction, adventure, mystery?

[Gavin]

Fiction in the vein of Maugham. Felt like a lazy summer read with endless pages describing gardens, insects, and features of a villa.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Can we rule out Up at the Villa?

How about The Garden of the Finzi-Continis?

"But it is not until 1938 that he is invited behind the walls of their lavish estate, as local Jews begin to gather there to avoid the racial laws of the Fascists, and the garden of the Finzi-Continis becomes a sort of idyllic sanctuary in an increasingly brutal world."